Authorities of Esan West Local Government Council, Edo State have declared commitment to stamp out Lassa Fever disease from the local government and its environs.
The Acting Chairman and Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in Esan West Local government, Engr. Emmanuel Ibhadome made the declaration while speaking at the flag off ceremony of the Stop Lassa Fever campaign by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, at the palace of the Onogie of Ekpoma, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.
He lauded the Edo State Government for championing the fight to eradicate the dreaded disease, lamenting that Lassa fever had claimed the lives of several persons, including those with promising futures.
He lamented further that 25 per cent of maternal mortality, since the first outbreak disease in Edo State in 1989, were traceable to Lassa Fever, but expressed confidence that the present campaign would lead to its outright eradication.
The acting chairman consequently advised residents of the local government to adhere strictly to the preventive measures against the disease, such as good sanitation, avoiding contact with rats and others.
On the part of the council, he disclosed that his administration was currently dating the ten wards of the local government, with a view to eliminating rats which have been identified as the root cause of the disease.
“I want everybody to avail themselves of the opportunity of this ” Stop Lassa Fever ” campaign flag-off, to ensure that their cooked and uncooked food items are safeguarded to avoid them been contaminated by rats.
“Esan West Local Government Council is fully committed to the goal of eradicating Lassa Fever through the ongoing aggressive deracination programmes with the support of World Health Organization (WHO), and the stare government”, he declared.
